What happened
On 13 February 2010, a Boeing 737-200, registration PK-YTR, was performing a scheduled flight from Juanda International Airport in Surabaya to Hasanudin International Airport in Makassar. The aircraft was carrying 125 people, including 120 passengers and five crew members.
During the takeoff roll on runway 10, the aircraft experienced a series of mechanical failures. Approximately 300 meters into the roll, the left outboard main tire exploded. As the aircraft continued down the runway, the left inboard tire exploded roughly 1,100 meters later. The force of these failures caused the tires to shred, forcing the aircraft to roll on its wheel rims. The co-pilot initiated an aborted takeoff, bringing the aircraft to a halt near the N6 intersection, about 350 meters from the end of the runway. The remaining tires on the opposite side also deflated during the event.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of the tire failures and the resulting damage to the aircraft and infrastructure. Investigators noted that while the aircraft sustained no structural damage beyond the landing gear, the runway surface suffered significant damage for a distance of approximately 925 meters between taxiways N3 and N6. All passengers were evacuated via air stairs and transported to the terminal by bus; no injuries were reported among the 125 occupants.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the explosion and shredding of the left main landing gear tires during the takeoff roll.
- The aircraft was forced to operate on its wheel rims following the destruction of the left-side tires.
- The incident resulted in significant asphalt damage to the runway surface.